Toy



Nov. 20 1923.

J; K. HODDINOTT TOY I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 gmmm cfddz 'rzoii Filed Dec. 5, 1921 Nov. 20 192 I J. K. HODDINOTT TOY iled Dec. 5 f

1921 V 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 V Q ai 5 Patented Nov. 20, 1923.

JOHN x pnonmnocrr, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND, Assrsnon on own-HALF To crorm V n'nonnmorr, or BALTIMORE, MARYLAND.

Application filed December 5, 1921; Serial No. 519,991

. To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that '1, JOHN K. HODDINOTT, a citizen of the United States, residing at Baltimore, in the city of Baltimore and State of Maryland, have invented certain new and useful Improvements ina Toy; and I do hereby :declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the inven tion, such as .will enable others skilled in the art to whiohit appertains to make and use the same. y V

' This invention has relation to certain new and useful improvements in a toy and has for its primary object.theprovision of a mechanical toy which will not only be amusing but also instructive.

The invention has for another object the provision of a mechanical toy which will be of simple construction and operation and which may include the figure of a kicking mule and a man preferably-in the imitation of a negro or darkey with a stick adapted to move toward the mule asthe latter kicks,

' thereby making it appear that the animal has been touched by the stick and is kicking as a result of the annoyance.

The invention has for a further object the provision of a mechanical toy of the character stated which may be operated by the same hand in which the toy is heldv and manipulatedso that the animal will be 1 its hind legs into'the air and the arm of thecaused to throw back its ears as it raises party standin by the animal moves with the stick in the hand to apparently' touch the animal, the operation of all these parts I being caused by the manipulation of a single operating member which also serves as the handle of the toy. I I The invention has for a still further object a tool of the character 'statedin which as not to obstruct view of any of theparts the parts willloe constructed and arranged in such a manner that the holding and op crating handle may depend from the plat- ,form on which .the figures" are mounted so of the toy during. operation thereof.

7 The inyention has-for a still further object'theQ provision of a toy of the character set forth which will be of simple construction and operation and comparatively inexpensive to manufacture and'wh1ch may be composed of any suitable material.

'Withthe foregoing'a-nd other objects in view, as will appear as the description proceeds, the invention consists in the novel construction, combination and arrangement of cooperating elements as hereinafter more specifically set forth, claimed and shown in,

the accompanying drawingsforming apart of the present application andin which;-

Figure 1 is a side elevation of the toy," Figure 2 is a vlew 1n end elevation of the toy,

Figure "3 is a sectionalview substantially on the plane of line 3-3 of Figure 2, look-' I ing in the direction indicated by the arrows, Figure 4: is a sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 2,

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken-on the line 5-5 of Figure 1,

Figure 6 is a sectional view taken on the line 66 of Figure 1,

.plane of line 9-9 of Figure 3, looking in the direction indicated by the arrows.

Referring more in detail to the drawings in which similar reference characters des-. ignate correspondingjparts throughout the several views, 1 indicates the platform, 2 the coil portion of the compressible operating handle, 3 the stationary arm of said handle and ithe movable handle and arm.

The stationary arm is bent at'the righte angle and formed into a loop 5. secured upon the under face of the platform :1 by suitable securing members 6. 'Toprevent.

the handle from slipping in or ,fro m"the hand during the manipulation of the handle arm 3-to actuatethe toy, this handle arm "and the handle arm 4 are crimped "or core rugatedj as shownfin the drawings."

The movable handle arm 4e,'s adapted to work through the elongated slot? extended longitudinally through the'platform' l, near 7 one side thereof, as clearly shown inrthe drawings. The" portions of the, handle arms Y 3 311C141: beneaththe platfor nl are bentso as toform a handg'rip'by means of which the toy may be. readily held: andopera'teol, the operation being caused by compressing the handle arms 3 and at toward one another and thereby causing movement of th'emovable handle arm 4 in the slot 7. A rock arm 8 ispivotedintermediate its ends on the under face of the platform 1, shown at 9 and the movable handle arm lextends through the slotted end 10 of the arm 8, passing through the slot 7 of the platform 1, thereby making it necessary fol-"the rock arm 8 to move with each operation of the movable handle members 14, as shown in the drawings. This segmental supporting plate also serves as the. support. for the, bell crank lever which ispivoted on one side thereof as shown in the drawings and has one arm engaged in the slotted end 11 of therock arm 8 so that the bell crank lever 15 will be operated by the operation of the rock arm 8. Pivotally connected with the remaining arm of the bell crank lever 15 is a rod 16.which worksthrough an opening 17 in the platform 1. The upwardly extended ends of the movable handle arm 4t and the rod 16 serve as, the figure actuating members. will be later clearly understood.

Mounted on the upper face of the platform 1 are the figures A. and B, the figure A being shown as representing a mule, while the figure Bis a manikin and represents a darkey standing by the side of the animal and having one arm extended with the arm thereof resting upon the post T which latter is also mounted on the platform 1. The figures A and B are formed in halves separated longitudinally and vertically. The halves of the animal figure A. form the body of the same and are secured together by suitable securing members A to form the bod which is mounted pivotally on the separated. forward legs 17, which latter are mounted rigidly on the platform 1. preferablynear a corner thereof and opposite one end of the slot '1 thereby placing the figure A over this slot to permit the extended upper end of the movable handle. arm 4% to project into and work into the partsvof the figure A. between the forward legs 17 and therea'r legs 18 of the animal.

The toy figure B representing the darkey is preferably n'iounted on the plat form. 1 with the forward section or half thereof securely fastenedby the seat of the figure to,

thepla-tforin 1, this section carrying the extended armof the V figure I resting on the post I l e meantime-flo earthen? fi ll lfly rear section of the toy ngure B is secured to the forward section by suitable securing members such as the screws B; The halves of the figure B have opposed recesses in their portions forn'iing the upper part ofthe body of thefigure to provide the pockets 19 within which is placed the transverse rock shaft 20 between the arms of the figure, as shown clearly in Figure 1 of the drawings. Suitable bearing slots or recesses 21 are formed in the forward half of the figure. B for the end portions of the rock shaft20. One end of the rock shaft 20 is extended through the side of the figure and has movable arm 22 mounted rigidly thereon and forming one arm of the figure B; A stick or other punishing member 23is carried in the hand: of r the arm 22 and directed toward the animal figureA. It is to be alsonoted that the rock shaft 2 0 has an eye or ear24 projecting'lab erally therefrom near one end and having pivotal connection with the upper extremity of the actuating rod 16. Suitable slots are extended longitudinally in the opposed faces of one leg of the halves ofthefigureBto provide the pocketsflor slot 2 5 to accommodate the actuating rod 16. It will therefore beievident that upon each operation of the movable handle arm 4 the actuating rod 16 will rock the rock shaft 20 and thereby swingthe arm 22 of the figure B and the stick 23 carried by this arm and make it appear that the man is touching the animal with the stick 23 beneath the rear portion of the body of the animal as will be evident by referring to the drawings, for the purpose ofexciting the animal and causing the latter to kick up its hind legs and throw back its ears while keeping its forwardlegs firm uponthe platform 1. This movement of the parts of the, animal is also caused by the movable handle arm at, as will now be described.

The body of the animal representing the figure B is formed in longitudinal. halves or sections and is pivoted at the lower corner of the body portion of the animal upon the pivot member 26 extended through-the up- 7 per ends of the forward legs 27 ofthe aniforward legs27. The upper ends of the reai legs 28 are spaced apart byithe laterally extended arm 29. of. the; pivot member'29. The pivot member 29 is prevented fromlturning in therear legs. 28 by a locking finger 2%,QXt 11d d1 ramers Qtawm and projecting into a recesseo formed in one of said rear legs 28. The purpose of this will also presently appear. The rear legs 28 are caused to swing through the lower rear corner portion of the body, as the body swings on the forward legs 27. This is caused by the longitudinally movable-operating bar 31 which is curved slightly longitudinally and extended practically the entire length of the body and betweenthe halves or sections thereof. This bar 31 has an elongated slot 32 nearits rear end portion and through which extendsthe pin 33 serving to connect the upper end portions of the rear legs 28, above the pivot 29. The bar 31 also has a depending arm 34 provided with a laterally turned and slotted lower end 35 within which is engaged the upper end portion of the movable handle arm 4, said movable handle arm 4 having'its upper extremity 4 enlarged so as to prevent thisarm'4 from working out of the depending arm 4 of the bar 31. The forward end of the bar '31 has a perforated eye 36 formed thereon and through which is extended a pivot mem-- ber 3? connecting the enlarged inner ends 38 of the ears 39 of the animal. These ends 38 of the ears 39 are enclosed in the upper end of the head portion of the animal so that the ears 39 project through the slots 40 provided for this purpose and accommodating the curved ends of the enlarged portions 38 of said ears 39. These ends 38 of the ears 39 have arcuate flanges 41 around their upper edge portions and for engagement with one another when the ears are in proper position. These ears are pivotally mounted in the upper portion of the head of the animal by a suitable pivot member 42 extended therethrough and through the sideportions or sections of the head, as shown clearly in the drawings. This pivot member 42 has an enlarged central portion 42. which serves to properly space the inner end portions 38 of the ears 39. It is to be understood that the pivot member 42 is located above the pivot member 37 so that the ears 39 may be operated together with the rear legs 28 upon proper operation ofthe bar 31 by the movable handle arm 4. There is a suitable guide for the bar 31, 1 haveprovided a guide plate 43 which, is positioned between the halves of the body of the figure A :ma

. inclined rearwardly and upwardly. This plate has projections 44 which are received in suitable openings 44 in the side of the hodv of the animal so as to securely hold the guide 43 in position. This guide plate has an elongated longitudinal slot 45 through which the bar 31 operates. It is also to be noted that a flexible member 46 may be employed-to represent the tail of the animal. One end of this member 46 by means of a suitable pin 47 is secured in registering recesses in the rear fl'angedends of the sections of the body members of the by this arm to their normal animal. It is also to be noted that the rear lower end walls 49 of the flanges of the body members serve to'limit upward swinging movement of the rear legs 28, while the stop pins 50 are located in the lower rear. edge portions of the figure to limit forward swinging movement of the rear legs 28. It is also to be noted that the lower edge portions of the inturned flanges or edges of the body members of the figure A- are cut away so as to permit proper operation of ,the device without interference or movement of the movable handle arm 4 and the rear legs 28 through the lower side portion of the figure A or movem'ent of the entire.

figure A upon the forward legs 275 as pre viously stated. Attention is also directed to the fact that the enlarged upper end 4 of the movable .handle arm 4 has a forwardly curved member4 formed thereon; for rising contact with the rear inclined face of the guide plate 43, so as to force the body of the'figure A to swing upon the pivot member 26 of the forward stationary legs 27 and thereby throw the head of the animal downwardly and the rear portion of the body upwardly,at' the 7 same time drawing the ears 39 rearwardly -and. throwing upwardly and outwardly the viously set forth. It is also evident that the weight of the figure A and the parts carg ried thereby will assist inretarding the figure of the animal to normalpositionwith the rear feet of the animal resting upon the platform 1, asthe movable parts are drawn back by return of the movable handle arm 1 to normal positio-no-r position of rest. At

the same time the return movement of the rock plate 8 with the movable handle arm '4 will cause 'a lreturn of the movable arm 22 of the figureB and the stick 23 carried shown in the drawings. r

Itis believed that the comi'ilete construction and operation of this devicemay be readily understood without further detail description. It may bebriefly stated,'how--. ever, that the complete operation of thez toy maybe caused by simply grasping the star-'- tionary handle arm 3 and movable handle arm 4 and pressing these handles toward one another and permitting them to return to their normallor separated positions. It is evident that the simultaneous operation of 7 position, as

iz o' Les 'nously with said means to cause pivotal the movable parts of the two figures A and 3 will cause it to appear that the man has touched the animal with the stick 23 and thereby excited the animal and caused it to throw up her hind. heels and throw back her ears while keeping the front heels firmly planted upon the platform 1, the rear or hind legs and ears as well as the body of the animal returning to normal position as the stick 23 is withdrawn. A repeated operation of the arms 3 and l may cause considerable amusement to the parties watching the operation of this toy as well as serve as instructions in mechanical movement, the optical illusion being so completed that it appears that the stick 23 actu-' ally touches the animal and causes the movement of the same when in reality these parts never meet.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been shown'and described, it is to be understood that minor changes in the details and arrangement of parts may be resorted to within the scope of what is claimed without departing from the spirit of the invention;

cl claim as my invention l. A figure toy comprising platform, an articulate animal figure pivotally mounted on said platform, a figure stationary on said platform and having a movable arm, a compressible handle member, one portion of said handle member being rigid with said platform, the other porti l of sa d handle member extending through and adapted to operate in said platform, and means controlled by said second mentioned portion of the handle to simultaneously operate said arm of said second figure and cause pivotal move ment of the animal figure on said platform and articulate movement of parts of the animal figure] 2. A mechanical toy comprising a platform, an animal figure having its forward legs rigid on said platform and having articulate ears and rear'legs, a figure representing a man positioned stationary on said platform, said last mentioned figure having a movable arm, a handle having a Sta-- tionary portion connected with said plat-.

form and a movable portion operable through said platform, means controlled by said movable portion of the handle for causing movement of said arm of the second mentioned figure, means operable synchromovement of the animal figure on the stationary forward legs thereof and at the same time compel swinging movement of said rear legs and said ears.

3. A mechanical toy comprlslng a plat-- form, a compressible handle having a stationary port-ion secured to said platform and the movable portion working through a slot in the platform, an animal figure including stationary legs mounted on said able portion of the handle extending into the body oi the animal figure, operative parts within said body of the animal figure and controlled bythe end of the movable memberof the handle to cause the animal figure to swing upon the stationary legs and move the pivoted legs and ears of the animal figure, and means operable by movement of the movable member of the handle to cause-a simultaneous movement of the arm of the secondmentioned figure.

l. A mechanical toy comprising a platform, a plurality of'figures mounted on said platform, one of said figures representing an animal and another figure representing a' man, said figures having their body portions formed in sections, the forward legs of the animal being stationary on said platform, the rear legs of the animal being pivotally mounted in the body thereof, the

ears of the animal being pivotally mounted in the body of the animal, ahandle member carried by said platform and including a movable arm working through said platform and extending into the body of theanimal, means controlled by said movable arm of the'handle ,tocause' a pivotalmovement of the body of the animal on the stationary legs thereofand a pivotal movement of the ren'iainin'g legs of the animal and the ears asthe body swings upon thestationary legs of the animal, guiding means forthe movable operatingmeans of the pivoted legs and ears'of the animal, and means controlled by said movable armof the handle" to oausea simultaneous movement of the figure representing a man to swing sa d arm 7 together with a stick carried thereby toward and away from the animal during operation of the latter; I 7

ln testimony whereof l atfix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOHN K. HODDINOTT. \Vitnesses JOHN R. SMITH, Mormon STUBBiNs. 

